About Us

Prior to founding Mohawk Insurance Services inc. Tom O’Connor spent 13 years at Mohawk Fine Paper, North America’s largest privately held premium paper manufacturer. His roles ranged from Sales management, Director of Customer Service, various supply chain roles, VP of Sales Operations, to most recently President of Crane Stationery, a subsidiary of Mohawk Fine Paper. All of these roles encompassed a true enterprise risk management methodology that Tom brings to Mohawk Insurance.

Tom started his career at Lindenmeyr Munroe, a division of Central National-Gottesman, in Annapolis, MD and worked in their management training program before joining Mohawk.

Tom is the Presidentand Founder of the NY Chapter of Folds of Honor, he is on the board of Trustees at St. Gregory’s School, and serves on the board of the Special Operator Transition Foundation (SOTF). Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Bates College. Tom and his wife Avery reside in Slingerlands, NY with their four children.

Justin Riccio has 21 years of Commercial Risk Management and Insurance experience. Prior to founding Mohawk Insurance Services, Justin was Executive Vice President of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., based in Albany, NY. Justin was responsible for the management and growth of Upstate and Western NY for Alliant.

Justin worked as Senior Vice President with JLT Specialty Insurance Services, a large multinational insurance and consulting firm. Justin also spent many years at Arthur J. Gallagher, as Executive Vice President of the Gallagher Albany, NY office.

Justin also began his insurance career in New York, working with global insurance carriers AIG and Chubb in their underwriting and claims divisions.

Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Delaware. Justin and his wife Kristy reside in Voorheesville, NY with their three children.

Katherine Leto is an Astute professional with superior customer care. She is very knowledgeable in operations, business process and agency management systems. Katherine is skilled at developing and maintaining relevant relationships with internal and external stakeholders. She is a dynamic, versatile account professional with a solid and proven track record of success in the fast-paced and diverse insurance industry.

She has been in the insurance industry for over 19 years. Prior to joining Mohawk Insurance Services, Katherine served as an Account Executive with Alliant Insurance. Before moving to Albany Katherine worked in her family owned Insurance Agency.

Katherine holds her Property and Casualty Brokers License in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Florida. She also holds a certification in Small Business coverage from The Hartford.

Darren’s extensive knowledge of the global risk landscape assists our clients with building insurance solutions that respond to terrorism, political risk, and trade credit exposures. He utilizes superior threat data and analytics to help educate our clients on how these global risks impact their operations, assets, and people. Darren provides customized risk management solutions that manage the impact of global threats, developing coverage that responds to each client’s unique exposures.

Darren McBurnett (SEAL) Ret. is a combat veteran, professional photographer, author, ambassador, and motivational speaker. Darren holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University where he was on the cycling and water polo teams and was captain of the rowing team.

Darren joined the Navy after college and started a 24-year SEAL career that included numerous deployments to combat zones in support of missions such as Operation Iraq Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Kosovo crisis, Liberia, and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Darren was a SEAL platoon leader and senior enlisted advisor who trained and operated with SEAL Teams Two, Four, Eight, One, Three, and SDV (SEAL Delivery Vehicle). He developed military free fall course of instruction; deployed two years to the Middle East with a Joint Special Operations Task Force working with U.S. SOF in support of all U.S. engagements in the region; was a member of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team; and was an instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUD/S). Darren received 49 individual, unit, and campaign honors, including a Bronze Star.

Christine Rounds, a graduate of Siena College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management, has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joins Mohawk Insurance Services with both insurance carrier and agency experience. Her background is in customer service, marketing, and sales of all lines of business insurance.

Christine began her insurance career with The Hartford Insurance Group and continued on with Continental Insurance Company before coming to the Agency side of the insurance industry in 1994. Since then she has been a leading marketer of new business and has extensive experience with the servicing and marketing of all types of business operations. She has managed a Commercial Lines department and is experienced with large complex accounts and nationwide programs.

Earning her Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) designation in 2014, Christine has been instrumental in advising clients regarding coverage gaps and additional products available to them. She prides herself in being of service to her customers and is always willing to explain the ins and outs of coverage to her clients.

Michael Sinnott joins Mohawk Insurance Services with 20 years of insurance claims and loss control experience. He began his career as a workers’ compensation claims adjuster with Travelers and for over a decade handled claims at all levels of complexity across multiple state jurisdictions. In 2014 Mike joined York Risk Services where he served as Assistant Regional Vice President overseeing the day-to-day claim operations of multiple claims teams in New York and New Jersey. In 2017 Mike shifted to the agency side when he joined Cool Insuring Agency (now Arthur J. Gallagher) as a Claims Consultant where he oversaw a workers’ comp return-to-work program for a large healthcare system and served as a claims advocate on behalf of all the agency’s clients across all lines of property and casualty coverage. Mike was born and raised and continues to reside in Albany, NY. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Loyola University in Maryland.

Nancy Scisci comes to Mohawk Insurance Services with 39 years of experience in the Insurance Industry. Her career started as a Small Commercial Account Manager for a long-standing Insurance Agency in downtown Albany. Later Nancy did the marketing and serving for the small business unit for a local Capital District Agency for 16 years. She then moved on to work for a bank owned Agency, First Niagara Insurance, where she was a Commercial Field representative. Her duties included sales and marketing and cultivating relationships with the bankers and their customers. Most recently Nancy worked for Upstate Agency LLC as a Senior Account Manager serving both small commercial and larger accounts for municipalities and school district. Nancy has attained her Certified Insurance Counselor designation and Small Business Insurance Specialist certification. She received a BS in Business Administration from the College of St Rose and resides in Niskayuna NY.

Mark is a Managing Partner and founding member of Mohawk Insurance Services. Mark is responsible for Mohawk’s operations in the Southeast, including recruiting, new strategic initiatives, business development, and overall client satisfaction. Mark partners with companies in the middle market sector to help them solve complex risk management issues by designing industry leading insurance solutions.

A native of Atlanta, Mark graduated from The Westminster Schools and went on to earn his degree in Political Science from SMU. Mark began his insurance career as a broker with Goosehead Insurance (GSHD) in Dallas, TX. After spending over six years in Texas, Mark moved back home to join one of Atlanta’s oldest and largest privately held firms, Johnson & Bryan. Prior to Mohawk, Mark was a Senior Vice President at Ironwood Insurance Services, a Marsh & McLennan Agency. At Ironwood MMA, Mark advised clients in several industries including: Manufacturing, Wholesale/Distribution, Real Estate, Hospitality, Technology/Telehealth, and Professional Services.

Mark is actively involved with Skyland Trail, a not-for-profit organization offering treatment to adults and adolescents with mental illness. Mark also enjoys giving back to his alma mater; he has served as Westminster’s community lacrosse coach and has also served as Chairman for various alumni reunions. Mark is getting married to the love of his life, Elizabeth, this fall in Augusta.

Cheryl Marinucci, a graduate of Russell Sage College with a bachelor’s degree in computer science including hours at SUNY Purchase and St. Rose College, has more than 21 years in the insurance industry, previously working as a financial advisor in 2000 for MetLife with a Life, Accident, Health and Series 6 licenses working with mutual funds, and variable annuities, went to the P&C Side of insurance at a small agency in Burnt Hills in 2002. Starting personal lines insurance, quickly making her way to supervisor of her department and transitioning within to Commercial Insurance in 2006. Over the years she enjoyed taking on the experience in servicing accounts, marketing, account executive, producer for sales, and as a contracted risk manager for clients such as large Colleges and Aviation. Cheryl recently came from Acrisure LLC in a remote position as Account Executive working on New York City and downstate risks with hard to place, high risk exposures. Cheryl is native to Saratoga County and the Capital District and continues to reside in Clifton Park. Cheryl also has a competitive edge for fitness as she was a Certified Personal Trainer for many years and is a competitive runner with a history of placing in the top three and four women overall for local and downstate half marathons.